Already in its fourth year, the annual Heritage Motorcycle Rally — also unofficially known as “Bike Week Charleston” — is scheduled to kick off on Fri. April 7 and run through Sun. April 16. Several primary motorcycle events will be held at the spacious digs at the Kick’n Horse facilities in Awendaw and at the Exchange Park in Ladson.

Last year’s Heritage Motorcycle Rally featured a hot music lineup of Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, and Black Oak Arkansas, as well as several local acts. Keeping with tradition, several outdoor rock concerts are set for the main stage at the Exchange Park.

Detroit “bad boy” Kid Rock and his current backing group, The Twisted Brown Trucker Band, headline on Sat. April 8 (see story).

New Orleans troopers and hurricane survivors Cowboy Mouth — drummer and lead vocalist Fred LeBlanc, bassist Sonia Tetlow, and guitarists Paul Sanchez and John Thomas Griffith — headline on Wed. April 12. The band consider the Charleston area their home away from home. Their latest release is a remastered version of their 2000 LP Easy.

Critically-acclaimed Athens, Ga. Southern-rawkers The Drive-By Truckers — guitarists Jason Isbel, Mike Cooley, and Patterson Hood, drummer Brad Morgan, and bassist Shonna Tucker — take the stage on Fri. April 14 in their first Charleston appearance since the release of their new studio album, A Blessing and a Curse.

Southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd headline an early-evening show on Sat. April 15. The band was recently inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame — and introduced at the induction ceremony by Kid Rock. The latest version of the band — fronted by original singer Ronnie Van Zandt’s kid brother Johnny Van Zandt — have new CD collections available, including a deluxe edition CD/DVD package of the 1976 album Gimme Back My Bullets and a special compilation titled Family, featuring the “biggest Lynyrd Skynyrd hits alongside the most popular tracks from the group’s extended family” (including .38 Special and The Rossington-Collins Band).

“Don’t forget, Bike Week is not just Ladson — Bike Week is happening all over Charleston,” say festival organizers. “This could eventually grow into one of the best bike weeks in the country. Charleston is gorgeous and there are lots of places holding great events throughout the entire week.”

There’s a ton of stuff going on for hardcore motorheads and occasional hobbyists throughout the week, including a variety of bike shows, build-offs, “meet-and-greets” with custom motorcycle builders, swap meets, poker runs, tattoo contests, movie screenings, and drag racing.

The price of admission in Ladson is $15 per day. The ten-day pass for $75 includes admission to all shows and events. A pass for the second weekend of events is available for $30. Check www.heritagemotorcyclerally.com and www.kicknhorse.com for more. —T. Ballard Lesemann

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Fri. April 7
10 a.m. Gates open, various Bike Week events.

6:30 p.m. Sons of the South
8 p.m. Geneva
9:30 p.m. Comedy with Bag Lady Sue

Sat. April 8
10 a.m. Gates open, various Bike Week events.

2 p.m. Big Black Building
6 p.m. Crank County Daredevils
7 p.m. Geneva
9 p.m. Kid Rock & The Twisted Brown Trucker Band (Tickets $15 in advance, $25 day of show)
11 p.m. Comedy with Bag Lady Sue

Sun. April 9
10 a.m. Gates open, various Bike Week events.

12:30 p.m. The Sound Dogs
10 p.m. “Movie Night” with The Wild One

Mon. April 10
5 p.m. Gates open, various Bike Week events.

8 p.m. The Sound Dogs
10 p.m. “Movie Night” with Easy Rider

Tues. April 11
5 p.m. Gates open, various Bike Week events.

8 p.m. Sons of the South

Wed. April 12
5 p.m. Gates open, various Bike Week events.

8 p.m. The Sound Dogs
9 p.m. Cowboy Mouth

Thurs. April 13
5 p.m. Gates open, various Bike Week events.

8 p.m. Sons of the South
9 p.m. Cowboy Mouth

Fri. April 14
10 a.m. Gates open, various Bike Week events.

7 p.m. Crank County Daredevils
8 p.m. Cowboy Mouth
9:30 p.m. The Drive-By Truckers

Sat. April 15
10 a.m. Gates open, various Bike Week events.

2 p.m. Music: Sons of the South
3 p.m. Crank County Daredevils
4:30 p.m. Pinkeye’d Gekko
5 p.m. Lynyrd Skynyrd
8:30 p.m. “Bike Show Awards Ceremony”
10 p.m. Crank County Daredevils

Sun. April 16
10 a.m. Gates open, various Bike Week events.

6 p.m. Rally Closes

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